Page 10 of Dragons & Dumplings

"Intriguing, but you know it's dangerous to get between me and baking."

Nate laughs. "I promise, this is in the pursuit of your baking," he assures me. "I might have managed to convince Lady An's cook to make us some tasters," Nate says.

"All right, tell me more."

He opens the oven door and uses an oven cloth to carry a tray with two buns over to the table, setting them down for us. He pulls a bowl closer to him and brushes each of the two buns with a clear sweet smelling liquid.

I pull a stool around so I can sit.

"There are a couple more in the steamer over there." He points towards the stove. "But they still need to rest for a couple of minutes, and they're sweet. These ones are savoury." He picks up one of the buns and holds it out to me.

I take it from him and pull it open. My mouth waters as a savoury-sweet smell hits my nose as the filling is revealed. "It's red."

"Yes, I was surprised about that too," Nate says as he sits down and opens his own bun. "She said that it was made with something called red yeast rice, but when I asked her if I could have some from her, she laughed."

"Oh. Is that going to be a problem for making them?" I try not to feel too disappointed about that. It wouldn't be the first time we've struggled to get hold of a specific ingredient.

He shakes his head. "She also admitted that it was just for colour, and that we could either leave it out, or use something else."

"Like beetroot juice?"

Nate smiles and pulls over a small bottle. "Already one step ahead of you."

"I'd expect nothing less," I respond. "The bun is so fluffy. It's almost like that bread your father made one time, with the butter."

"Brioche," Nate says. "It's a recipe he learned in Gaullesse, but he says it's a waste of butter."

"That's a shame, because I think Mama would love it." I pop some of the savoury bun into my mouth and let out a satisfied sigh. "That's beautiful bread. And the filling is good too."

"It is," he agrees.

I savour the insides, trying to work out what the flavours I can taste are. The meat is definitely pork, but beyond that, I don't recognise much of it. There are some spices within it, but they don't taste like the ones that come from Raajad across the sea, but it's definitely there. I'm surprised by how sweet the whole thing is, while also being savoury. "What's in it?" I ask, assuming he knows, because he's seen the recipe already.

"Some kind of roasted pork," he says. "But she basted it in something. She wouldn't give me the recipe for that, though."

"I suppose she has to keep some of her secrets," I grumble.

He laughs. "Maybe you can get it out of her."

"I don't think so. I know you're all happy for me to spend time in the kitchens, but I doubt she's going to be the same considering she doesn't know me."

"I hate to break it to you, Evie, but you're still a princess, and this is your kingdom. She'll likely have to do what you say."

I wrinkle my nose. "It's fine. I don't want to ruin my father's trade alliance by accidentally insulting a visiting cook." I put another bite of the bun into my mouth. "What's the sweetness on top?"

"Honey glaze." He gestures to the pot next to us. "I'm not sure it's necessary, but the cook said it was traditional."

"Then it stays," I respond, finishing it all. "What are the other ones?"

"Salted custard buns," he says, going over to the steamer and lifting something out of it.

"Oh, they sound nice."

They look different from the baked buns, with a shiny domed top which looks kind of like it's got a film over it.

"Try one." Nate holds the steamer basket out to me.

"Thank you." I take one and bounce it between my fingers. It's springy, especially compared to the other bun, which is probably because it's steamed rather than baked.

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